Affordable homes plan to be submitted for outskirts of Exmouth

A MAJOR East Devon landowner is due to submit plans for 350 homes on the outskirts of Exmouth at the end of January.

Clinton Devon Estates launched an extensive public consultation on its proposals for Plumb Park near Littleham at the end of 2011.

The consultation has incorporated various social media outlets as well as an open day which was attended by around 250 people in November.

People have also been able to give their feedback to the initial proposals via the Plumb Park website.

Although the development is controversial among nearby residents, it will help meet the need for affordable homes in the town.

Plans also incorporate public open space, woodlands, a community orchard, cycle routes and footpaths linking the development with the town centre, seafront and bus routes.

John Varley, estates director, said: "We were expecting a maximum of 150 people at the open day so we were delighted with the number who turned up, particularly given the terrible weather that day.

"As part of our advertising campaign, we sent out more than 1,100 letters to the community and distributed leaflets so we've done everything we possibly could to encourage engagement from the town.

"Out of 84 surveys which were completed on the day, only 10 were opposed to the principle of development.

"There were a range of views expressed and as a result of the exhibition we were in dialogue with a number of people afterwards, for example we visited one or two residents on Douglas Avenue to talk to them about the impact it would have on them, and as a result changed the layout of the scheme."

The firm has also been involved in the Littleham Traffic Project, a consortium including town and county councillors and the local residents' association, which is identifying ways traffic can be improved in the area.

"General concerns are about traffic and those who live nearby have more specific concerns about the impact on them," said Mr Varley.

"There are some people we know we'll never be able to win round but what we can do is demonstrate that we are listening and responding."

He said he has also been in talks with Littleham Primary School and is looking at what projects the Section 106 money could be put towards.

Section 106 money is pledged by developers for community projects to help mitigate the effect their development has, however it cannot be used against existing issues.

"The whole point about Plumb Park is the provision of affordable homes and what the majority of people have said they want is for it to be pepper-potted around the development.

"Once the outline planning application has been submitted there will be further consultation on the detail."

He added: "We want this to be an exemplar consultation and an exemplar development where the people of Exmouth will one day turn round and say it was a step forward in providing affordable homes for people to live in."